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14. Leicester (8) All Saints Church the disused ex Great Central Railway Station and the busy Leicester London Road main-line station Some buildings that have seen better days! and some fairing better! All Saints Church, Leicester
The much changed and restored All Saints medieval Church in High Cross Street is not needed for regular services but it is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. It remains a consecrated building, and therefore can be used for worship and is an important part of Leicester's history with its origins dating from the thirteenth century and the north and south aisles added later.
The west doorway, much eroded and much restored but one of the few clearly visible features of the original Norman church.
The relatively modern brick chancel? and the stocky' tower of All Saints Church seen from the quiet and peaceful graveyard. The old ex Great Central Railway Station
Just up from All Saints is Great Central Street where the dilapidated remains of the former Leicester Central Railway Station reside.
This was originally the main Leicester station for the Great Central Railway prior to 1923. Neither of these buildings is exactly on Leicester's tourist trail, but they are architectural reminders of aspects of the history of the city. Leicester London Road main-line station - the present day Network Rail station
The first station was built in 1840, but after several rebuilds the present buildings date mainly from 1894 and is one of the best preserved late Victorian buildings in Leicester with its grand 'departure' and 'Arrival' arches.
Leicester stations is extremely busy and pleasing to note that railway public transport is well used in the area. A few examples are the East Midlands Trains - Railway Company running trains from the Midlands to London from or via, Sheffield, Nottingham, Loughborough and Leicester and the Crosscountry (Cross-Country) franchise organisation runs trains from Birmingham to Leicester, Cambridge and Stansted Airport via the stations of Water Orton, Coleshill Parkway, Nuneaton, Hinckley, Narborough, South Wigston, Melton Mowbray, Oakham, Stamford, Peterborough, Whittlesea, March, Manea, Ely and Audley End.
On the left some details of the fine brick and stone architecture of the front facade of Leicester Station in London Road. Just down the road from the station is a statue of Thomas Cook (1808-1892), the Victorian founder of the famous travel agency who ran his first excursion train from Leicester station in 1841. The travel company he founded was continued by his son to become one of the largest holiday companies in the UK.
East Midlands * West Midlands * England docspics photos images pictures © Phil Brown |
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